California man first in U.S. charged with smuggling greenhouse gases | 3 March 2024 | A Californian man pleaded not guilty on Monday after being arrested and charged for allegedly smuggling [so-called] greenhouse gases from Mexico into the U.S. and selling them for profit, prosecutors said. Michael Hart, 58, of San Diego, faces the first-ever prosecution in the U.S. to include charges related to the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act) for allegedly smuggling hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas used in refrigeration and air conditioning. In addition to greenhouse gases, Hart is accused of importing HCFC 22, an ozone-depleting substance regulated under the Clean Air Act. It became illegal to import HCFC 22 in 2020 except under certain circumstances.